1. Why Should I Service my Vehicle’s A/C System Regularly?
Your vehicle’s air conditioning system is located in many different areas of the car. They’re all connected by rubber hoses and seals. When you turn on the air conditioning, the system is subject to plenty of wear and tear due to temperature changes, vibrations, and corrosion.
The A/C also contains a very important component known as the compressor seal. This seal locks in gas, preventing it from escaping. The seal has to be kept lubricated so that it functions effectively. If you don’t lubricate or service the vital components of the car air conditioning system, it could eventually lead to premature failure.
2. Why isn’t the Air Conditioner Blowing Cold Air?
The main reason why this happens is that the A/C compressor isn’t being cooled properly. To cool the compressor, you have to ensure that the system is not running low on refrigerant. This can be solved with a simple air con service through a reputable auto technician. If you continue to operate the air conditioner under these circumstances, you will damage it. Get the system diagnosed by a licensed technician at the earliest possible time to prevent catastrophic failure of its components.
3. If I Add More Refrigerant, will the Air Conditioner Blow Colder Air?
No. The air conditioning system in your vehicle is meant to be charged with just the right amount of refrigerant. If you add more than what’s required, you’ll risk damaging the system. If the air conditioning system is not cooling efficiently, you have to find out whether it’s a refrigerant-related issue or not. Topping off doesn’t help because there’s no full-proof way to know how much refrigerant is already in the system. A licensed technician will have to first recover all the refrigerant from the system before recharging it according to factory specifications.
4. What’s That Foul Odour Coming from my A/C System?
When you run the heating/cooling system in your vehicle, air passes over the evaporator. The evaporator is generally wet because of condensation. It, therefore, traps dirt and other contaminants from the air. This eventually gives rise to mould and other spores that release a foul odour every time you turn on the A/C. It’s important to disinfect the air conditioning system periodically to kill nasty bacterial spores and breathe clean air.
5. How do I Vacuum the Air Conditioning System?
To keep the A/C system clean, you can vacuum it using a vacuum pump and a standard manifold gauge set. Make sure all control valves on the gauge set are shut. Then, connect the pressure gauges to the air conditioning system and start the vacuum pump. For regular maintenance, vacuum for at least ½ an hour. If the system is contaminated or has a seized compressor, you must vacuum for at least 1 hour.
6. What is Retrofitting?
Retrofitting is updating the air conditioning system to work on new gas, fittings, and expansion valves. Air conditioning systems in older vehicles used the R 12 refrigerant, which was later phased out because of the ozone protection plan. The new ozone friendly refrigerant is the R-134a. This refrigerant is incompatible with the lubricant used in older air conditioning systems. Licensed car mechanics retrofit A/C systems, so they work efficiently with the new R-134a refrigerant.
7. What is Retrofitting?
A professional diagnostic service helps to identify faults in the air conditioning system. It may warn you of potential problems that could lead to catastrophic failure. The diagnostic service will tell you whether the problem is associated with low gas levels, electrical malfunctions, or damaged parts. Don’t let small problems with your air conditioning system render it inoperable. Get in touch with Autospark today to fix your car fast. Call or visit a branch closest to you.
